[Pancreatic cancer in 2014: screening and epidemiology]

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer remains today the cancer with the worst prognosis with 330300 deaths per year worldwide with a cancer prevalence of 211500 cases in 2012. Despite progress made in the understanding of the pathophysiology of this neoplasia, morbidity and mortality have not been modified. Tobacco remains the only modifiable risk factor with an impact on the incidence of pancreatic cancer. Screening programs involving medical imaging and serum markers have so far failed to alter the incidence and prognosis of the disease, even in selected populations with high risk. However, screening programs allowed some high-risk patients to be diagnosed early and therefore have been received care at an asymptomatic stage. The impact on the prognosis has nevertheless not been demonstrated yet.